The 20th EU-Central Asia ministerial meeting is taking place in Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat, today. 

The EU Delegation to Tajikistan says that chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, the meeting is discussing preparations from the first ever EU-Central Asia Summit, which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from April 3-4, 2025.       

In addition to this, discussions are reportedly focusing on a wide range of issues, including the regional impact of Russia’s war on Ukraine, transport and digital connectivity, critical raw materials, energy and water, trade, people-to-people contacts, education and research.

Ahead of the meeting, the HR/VP is meeting bilaterally with the Foreign Ministers of Turkmenistan - Raşit Meredow and Tajikistan - Sirojiddin Muhriddin, as well as with the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

The Ministerial meeting will be followed by a press conference with HR/VP Kallas, at around 14:45 (10:45 CET) today.

The HR/VP will then travel to Tashkent in Uzbekistan where she will meet with Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.  

She will then travel onwards to Almaty, Kazakhstan where she will meet tomorrow the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu.  She will also meet bilaterally with the

President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.